Operating means



' A. H. STEBEHNS OPERATING MEANS Filed oet.

3 Sheets-Sheet l -Dec. 29, 1925 A. H. STEBBINS OPERATING MEANS Filed Oct.

8, 1924 3 SheetS--Sheefl 2 R, O Wm W4 WW Y 5 Dec. 29,1925.

--\ A. H. STEBBINS OPERATING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 06t- 8, 1924 /NVEA/TOR.' y ZJM #m4 /4 TTOR/VEY VState of California,

Patented Dec. 2,9, 1925,

Laatse ALBERT H. STEBBINS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

OPERATING MEANS.

Application led October 8, 1924. Seal No. 742,386.

To all whomz' may concer/n:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. STEBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and have invented an Improvement in Operating Means, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to vibrating means for operating screens and table concentrators.

Screens are employed to separate materials in accordance with the differences in size, and table concentrators are employed to separate materials in accordance with the differences in specific gravity. In both screens and table concentrators the material supporting surface is usually mounted for a vibratory movement, and the nature of the movement employed in both types of machines is important.

In screens the movement employed may serve to promote travel of the materials lengthwise of the screen, to shift the materials so that they are presented to the screen surface for thorough treatment, and also to shake the screen in a manner to dislodge particles from the apertures of the screen, or if desired the movement employed may serve only one or moreof these purposes.

In table concentrators the movement employed commonly serves to promote travel n of the materials lengthwise of the deck and also to promote stratification, and in accomplishing these results the deck must not be vibrated with suflicient force to dist-urb the diierent strata into which the materials are being formed.

One of the best known movements for advancing materials along the surface -of a screen or deck comprises a back Vand forth movement which reverses its direction slowly at one end of ,its path of travel and quickly at the other end of the path of travel. This constitutes a progressive movement that causes the materials to slide a short distance lengthwise of the deck each time the movement is checked suddenly at one end of the path of travel.

l The vibrating means of the present invention may be employed ,to impart various different movements to a material supporting surface, and is therefore well adapted to operated screens, concentrator decks and other forms of separators.

ne important feature of the present invention resides in a pair of operating eccentrics which arev disposed at an angle to each othei` so that each serves to modify the action of the other upon the supporting surface being vibrated.

It is well known that when an eccentric is employed to produce a reciprocatory movement, thc speed of movement is relatively slow at each end of its stroke and is greatest at a point about halfway between the ends of the stroke. By employing two eccentrics, in accordance with the present invention, one eccentric may serve to reverse the movement of the object being operated at the instant it is traveling at its greatest speed under the control of the other eccentric. In this manner an ideal progressive movement is obtained as the travel of the material supporting surface in one direction may be reversed as quickly as desired, and by changing the relative angle of the two eccentrics the movement may be varied as desired.

Another feature of the invention resides in eccentrics which are operated to exert a force upon first one side of a material treating frame and then the other so that the eccentrics will impart a combined back and forth and side twitch movement t-o the frame. This movement is particularly well adapted to operate screens as it will dislodge particles from the apertures of the screen surface.

Still another feature of the invention resides in three or more eccentrics disposed side by side at an angle to each other in such a manner that each modifies the action of the others upon the material supporting surface being vibrated.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts in addition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate good practical forms thereof.

In the drawings Fig. l s a top plan viewof a screen provided with the vibrating mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4. of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through the operating shaft and taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a face view of an operating shaft provided' with three eccentrics.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating'the action of two eccentrics when they are disposed at an angle of 18() degrees to each other. l

Figs. 12, 13 and 14C are diagrammatic views illustrating the action of two eccentrics Ydisposed atan acute angle to each other; and

Figs'. 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating the action of three angularly disposed eccentrics.

The vibratory mechanism of thepresent invention is shown in connection with a screen, as it is admirably adaptedv to operate a'screen with a back and forth movement and also a side vtwitch movement. but since any ldesired movement may be obtained in accordance with the present invention by changing the lrelative angle of the operating r eccentrics, the'present invention may also be employed to vibrate the deck of a concentrator table. or operat-eother forms of separators employing a vibratory movement.

1n the embodiment of the invention shown,-

a supporting base is provided consisting of spaced, longitudinally extending beams 10 that-may beV secured in spaced relation by any suitable means, not shown. Upon the basel@ is mounted the screen frame consisting of longitudinally extending side walls 11 connected by end'walls 12.` The materials to be treated are delivered to the screen by a hopper 13y secured to one end of the screen frame. and the screen frame is shown as pro vided with an upper screening surface 141 and alower screening surface 15. These screening surfaces may be secured in a stretched condition to the opposite sides of the frame in any well known manner.

As above stated the operating means of the present invention serves not only to move the material supporting surface back and forth,

f but may also impart a side twitch movement to the surface which will serve to dislodge particles from the apertures therein. 1n orderA to ,impart both movements to the screen frame it is necessary that the frame e supported so; that it may move freely in various directions, and to this end in the present. casethe screen frame is shownsas supported by coiled springs 16, the lower ends of which rest upon the beams 10 and' number may be employed. These supporting springs permit the frame not only to be inoved back and forth and transversely, but also in a vertical direction to a limited degree, by compressing the springs and then allowing them to expand.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4f inclusive, the screen frame is operated from a main shaft 18 which is journaled in bearings 19 secured to the beams 10 and this shaft may be rotated by the pulley 2O securedto an end thereof. rlhe shaft 18 is provided with a ypair of angularly disposed eccentrics 21 and 22 at one side of the screen and a second pair of angularly disposed eccentrics 23 and 24F. at the opposite side of the screen. Various means might be provided for imparting movement from the eccentrics tothe screen frame and in the construction shown this is accomplishedvby providing a pivoted lever 25 which is operated by one pair of eccentrics and a second pivoted lever 26 which ijsoperated vby the other pair of eccentrics. rfhe levers 25a-nd 26 are secured to the transversely extending shaft 27, which is supported by brackets 27a and the shaft may be rotatably mounted in these brackets or, if'preferred, the levers 25 and 26 may be rockingly mounted on the shaft 27. Each lever has a relatively wide face adapted to eXtendover both eccentrics of a pair so that either eccentric may impart a ioclrinov movement tothe lever. The eccentrics in the construction shown do not directly engage the levers25 and 26, since considerable friction would be produced if the eccentrics rotated against the face of the lever, and to prevent this loss of energy and wear each eccentric is providedwith an outer ring 28 t see Fig. 6) which surrounds the eccentric proper and is supported upon vthe eccentric by antifricticn bearings 281L of any well known or preferred construction. As a result of this construction each eccentric rotates ,freely within its outer rino. and the rings are moved by the eccentrics into and out of operative Aengagement with the rocking levers 25 and 26 to operate the levers without rotating relatively thereto.

In the present construction movementis imparted to thescreen frame fronithe levers 25 and 26 by cables 29 and 30actuated by the respective levers. Each cable has one end securely fastened to a rocking lever as at 31, and an intermediate portion of each cable extends lengthwiseA of the Vscreen frame and is rigidly secured thereto. In the construclil) tionsliown, 'each cable is secured to` a side off the frame at three points by clamps 32 and each cable is further supported by grooved blocks 33 secured "to the side of the frame and whicn support the cable when it is pulled downwardly at a slight angle, as shown in Fig. In the construction shown the operatingl levers 25 and 26 are disposed near the hopper end of the screen. and adj acent the opposite end of the screen is mounted a transversely extending shaft BML supported by brackets 35 that are fastened to the beams 10 and upon the shaft 34 are rctataaly mounted the idle sheaves 36. Ono end of each cable 29 and 30 extends from the screen frame about a grooved sheave 36 and the end of the cable is yieldinglv secured to a ybeam 10. In the construction shown the yielding' anchor for each cable consists of a relatively long Jthreaded bolt 37 having a cable receiving hool; at one end. Each bolt 3T is "slidably mounted in a bracket 38 secured to a beam 10 and a coiled spring 39 is coniined'betiveen rone face of the bracket 38 and a cupll() mounted upon the bolt 37 and held in place by adjustable nuts 41. The Trement is such that the tension of each spring 39 may be varied as desired by adjusting the nuts 41.

VFrom the above description, when read in connection r-rwith the drawings, it will be seen that when a lever 25 is rocked upwar dly by either of its eecentrics the cable will be pulled in a left-hand direction, viewing Fig. 2. This will pullthe side of the screen frame to which the vcable is secured in a left-hand direction and will compress the cable anchoring spring '39, and when the cccentrics permit the operating lever to rock in a clockwise direction, 'the screen frame will more in a right-hand direction under the action of the compressed spring 39.

its statechit is desirable to impart a side twitch movement to the screen frame, in iuiditionto the back and forth `movement in the direction of its length, and this is accomplished by securing the eccentrics 21 and to their operating shaft out of alinenient Vwith the eccentrics 23 and 24, the arrangement of the eccentrics being such that first one rocking lever and then the other is actuated so that one side ofthe screen frame is pulled and then the other. This will impart a side twitch movement to the screen irai'ne, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The nature of the movement imparted to the screen frame may be varied (as desired by changing the angular posi tion of the various eccentrics and if it is desirable to dispense with the side twitch movement just mentioned, this may be accomplished by placing the pair of eccentrics 4'at one side of the screen frame in angular alinement with the eccentrics atthe opposite side of the' frame.

Various means other than the rocking levers and 26 may be employed for im parting movement .from the eccentrics 21., 22, 23 and 24 to the screen frame, but the construction shown is desirable because it permits a' single cable to be operated from a pair of eccentrics.

If a progressive movement is to be imparted to a screen to advance the materials lengthwise thereof, yit is necessary to arrest the movement of the material operating snrtace more promptly in one direction than the other. As above stated, thc use of a pair of angularly disposed eccentrics, in accordance with the present invention, is admirably adapted to produce the desired progressive movement. The eccentrics may be disposed at various angles to each other and in Figs. (i and 9 the eccentrics are indicated as disposed at an angle of 1S() degrees to each other. The nature of the movement obtained by a pair of eccentrics positioned as shown in Figs. 6 and 9 may be understood by studying Figs. 9, 10 and 11, wherein the vertical line 42 indicates the face of a lever such as 25, resting against one or both of the eccentrics 21 and 22. The point a of Fig. S) indicates the shortest radius or the position of the lever 42 when it lies nearest to the operating shaft 18. As the shaft and eccentrics rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9, the level' t2 will moveoutwardly to the successive positions indicated in Fig. 10 by the length of the lines (1,12, o and d, (l being the maxi-l mum movement imparted to the lever 42, and as the eccentric 22 continues to rotate, the lover Ll2 will approach the main shaft 18 as the points e, f and g successively engage thelever -l-2, It will be understood that the lever l2 is moving towards theshaft 18 at its maximum speed, as the eccentric rotates to bring the points f and g successively in- Vto engagement with the lever ft2, but at the instant the point f/ engages the' lever. the movement of the lever in a left-hand dir ction is checked by the second eccentric 2l moving into engagement with the same, and, under the influence of this second eccentric, the lever 2 is rapidly moved in a righthand direction; by thus rapidl)1 reversing the direction of movement of the lever Ll2, the desired progressive movement is im? parted to the materials supported by the screen. The nature of the movement produced by each of the eccentrics 21 and 22, when they are disposed 180 degrees apart is indicated by the curves plotted in Fig. 11. ln Figs. 12, 1? and lll. the eccentrics are indicated as disposed at an angle of G0 degrees to each other. Upon examining the diagram shown in Fig. lei, it will be seen that the angular disposition of eccentrics shown in Fig. 12 serves to produce a momentary change in the direction of the movement of the lever 42, as the points f, g and It pass successively into engagement with the lever 42. This is due to the :tact that the radius is slightly shorter than the maximum ra ii f and 7L` of the two eccentrics. l

1t may be desirable to avoid the slight dip indicated at the point g in the diagram ot Fig. 14 and to make the reversal of the direction ot movement of the screen tra-me at one end of its path of travel more gradual than may be obtained by a pair ot eccentrics. In this case three angularly disposed eccentrics 48, 44 and 4.5 may be employed,

las indicated in Figs. 7 and 8,' and these three eccentrics may act against the tace of a single lever 46. The nature ot' the movement imparted to a lever by these three eccentrics may be observed by examining Figs. 15, 16 and 17. In Fig. 17, it will be seen that the upper portion of the curve of the diagram is nearly a straight line, thus indicating a reversalY of movement which is more gradual than that obtained in either Fi .11 or 14.

n some cases it may be desirable to impart a pronounced side twitch movement to a 'iii screen trame, without employing also a sub-- stantial progressive movement, in which case the pair of eccentrics provided near each end of the main shaft 18 may be replaced by a single eccentric 47, provided at the lett hand side of the screen and a single eccentric 4S at the right hand side of the screen as shown in Fig. 5, and one of these eccentrics may operate against the lever while the other Voperates against the lever 26. The eccentrics 47 and 48, it will be understood, are disposed at an angle of 180 degrees, or any other desired angle to each other, so that they will ergert a pull upon first one sident the screen frame and then the other, to move it back and forth with 'a pronounced side twitch movement.

What is'claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination ot' a supporting base, a frame supported by the base for vibratory movement, means tor moving the frame in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction, including levers pivotally secured to the base at each side thereot, cables operatively connecting each lever to a side ot the trame, and a pair ot angularly disposed eccentrics for rocking one lever and a second pair of angularly disposed eccentrics tor rocking the other lever.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, a trame supported by the base for vibratory moveinent, means for moving the frame in one direction, means Jfor moving the :trame in the opposite direction, including levers pivotally secured to the base at each side thereet, a connection between each lever and the adjacent side or said trame, and a pair of angularly disposed eccentrics for rocking one lever and a second pair of angularly disposed eccentrics for rocking the other lever.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination oit a supporting base, a trame supported by the base for vibratory movenient, means tor moving the frame in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction, including rocking levers pivotally mounted at the opposite sides of the base and each lever having an enlarged portion near the lever pivot provided with a curved cable receiving surface, cables for operatively connecting each lever to a side of the traine, and eccentrics for rocking the levers in a direction to pull the cables and vibrate the trame.

4. 1n a device of the class described, the combination ot a supporting base, a trame supported by the base for movement both longitudinally and transversely, yielding means for moving the `trame in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction and for imparting a side twitch movement to the frame, including a pair ot eccentrics located at the opposite sides of the trarne, and cables for imparting the movement ot one eccentric to one side of the trame and the movement of the other eccentric to the other side of the trame, said eccentrics being angularly disposed so that they pull irst one side of the frame and then the other.

5. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, a frame supported by the base tor movement both longitudinally and transversely, operating cables secured to the opposite sides of the frame to provide a flexible connection between tlie frame and each actuating means, spring means acting upon the cables to pull the 'trame in one direction, eccentrics disposed at the opposite sides of said frame and operable upon the cables to pull the frame in the opposite direction and to control the movement of the trame under the action of said spring means.

6. ln a device of the class described, the combination ot a supporting base, a frame ysupported by the base for vibratory movement in the direction of its length, means ior moving the trame in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction including a pair ot' angularly disposed eccentrics adjacent one side of the trame, a second pair of angularly disposed eccentrics adjacent the other side ot the frame, and means tor imparting movement from each pair of eccentrics to the respective sides of the frame. V Y

7. In a device ot the class described the combination of a supporting base, a frame supported by the base for movement both longitudinally and transversely, means for moving the frame in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction and for imparting a side t-witch movement to the frame including a pair of angularly disposed eccentrics adjacent one side of the trame, a second pair of angularly disposed eccentrics adjacent t-he other side of the frame and out of angular alignment with the iirst pair of eccentrics, and means for imparting movement from each pair ot eccentrics to one side of the Jframe and trom the other pair of eccentrics to the opposite side of the frame to vibrate the same with a side twitch movement.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, a frame vsupported by the base for vibratory movement in the direction of its length, means t'or moving the iframe in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction, including levers pivotally secured to the base at each side thereof, a pair ot' cables for operatively connecting the sides of the frame to the respective levers, and a pair of eccentrics, one for operating each lever, to actuate the frame.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, a frame supported by the base for movement both longitudinally and transversely, means for moving the frame in one direction, means for moving the frame in the opposite direction and for imparting a side twitch movement to the frame, including levers pivotally secured to the base at each side thereof, a pair of cables for operatively connecting the sides of the frame to the respective levers, and. a pair of eccentrics one for operating each lever and angularly disposed so that they pull lirst one side of the frame and then the other.

l0. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting base, a frame supported by the base for vibratory movement, means for moving the frame in one direction, three angularly disposed eccentrics for moving the frame in the opposite direction and for controlling the movement of the frame under the action of said means, and means actuated by a partial rotation of each eccentric for operating the frame.

ll. In a device ot' the class described, the combination of a supporting base, a frame supported by the base for vibratory movenient, means for moving the frame in one direction, three angularly disposed eccentrics t'or moving the iframe in the opposite direction and for controlling the movement of the 'trame under the action of said means, a lever actuated by the partial rotation of each eccentric, and means 'for operatively connecting the lever to the frame to actuate the latter.

12. In a device ot' the class described, the combination ot a supporting base, a frame supported by the base for vibratory movement, means for moving the frame in one direction, a rotating' shaft, three eccentrics secured to said shaft in different angular re lation, and means actuated by the three eccentrics to move the frame in the opposite direction and to control its movement so that it will reverse slowly at one end of its path ot travel and quickly at the other end of its path of travel.

13. A separator for treating materials comprising, in combination, a supporting base, a trame supported by the base for free movement both longitudinally and transversely, cables connected to the opposite sides of the frame to pull the frame in the direction of its length and arranged so that they will not interfere with the lateral movement of the frame, angularly disposed eccentries operable to pull first one cable and then the other to vibrate the frame with a side twitch movement, and spring means for yielding'ly forcing the trame in the cable tightening direction.

In testimony whereof, I have name to this specification.

ALBERT H. STEBBINS.

signed my 

